Bird flu found in raw food from Savage Cat Food, and NYC health officials advise not feeding pets the product

New Yorkers shouldn't feed their pets raw Savage Cat Food after bird flu was recently detected in two cats who died, with the virus also suspected in a third, all connected to the company's raw product, the city's health department said on Saturday.

The infections have been traced to poultry packets lot number 11152026, the department wrote in a press release; the cases were over the past two months.

According to the Savage website, the brand is sold throughout the region, including on Long Island in such places as Merrick, Long Beach, East Northport and Mineola.

The Savage website, which calls its product "prey-based cat food," says the affected lot has been recalled and the product can be returned to the retailer for a full refund.

The health department outlined the three cases, using pseudonyms for the sickened pets:

• "Cat A became ill this month and was hospitalized with fever, loss of appetite and severe respiratory disease ... The cat died as a result of the infection."

• "A second cat, cat B, was diagnosed with H5N1 and testing was confirmed last month by the National Veterinary Services Laboratories. This cat developed fever and severe respiratory and liver disease and also died as a result of infection ... This cat did not consume the raw food product but was exposed to a sick cat, cat C."

• "Cat C became ill with fever after consuming Savage Cat Food lot number 11152026. Cat C survived and H5 testing was not performed and cannot be performed as too much time has passed."

Human infection with bird flu is extremely rare but it has happened, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.

By Matthew Chayes

matthew.chayes@newsday.comchayesmatthew

Matthew Chayes, a Newsday reporter since 2007, covers New York City.